Bartosz Hadala Group -][- THE RUNNER UP – [Piloo Records And Productions, 2010]

The first time i heard Bartosz Hadala was at the legendary NYC hotspot, the 55 Bar. That night Ada Rovatti played a very ‘hot’ band that featured Janek Gwizdala and Obed Calvaire. The only one in the band i didn’t know was the pianist. but even before his first solo, i was already digging his tasty comping and strong interaction with the band and i knew i was in for a treat.

During that show my curiosity grew and since that night I followed up on Bartosz Hadala’s career and his musical output that could be straight ahead jazz one night, church music the next (morning) and another time fusion and funk.

A couple of weeks after that first encounter he told me he was in the middle of recording a jazz album that would feature Randy Brecker, Ada Rovatti and Antonio Sanchez among others. Now the album has just been released and I’m simply blown away by the music. Hadala’s original composition are very strong and despite the complexity of the music there is plenty of interaction, risk-taking and fun going on. —Andreas Arnold | Reviewer CDBaby

To Be Released on February 26, Coinciding With The Launch of the New, Kneebody Owned-and-Operated Label, Low Electrical Records

“an excellent new quartet that will have its first album out next month. The band played through irregular grooves beautifully. . . . strong and controlled . . .” – The New York Times (on The Music Band’s performance at The 2011 Winter Jazzfest)

Trumpet-Composer Shane Endsley

On February 26 two events will take place that will contribute mightily to the present and future shape of modern jazz/improvised music, the release of Shane Endsley’s new recording, Shane Endsley and The Music Band – Then The Other, and the launch of an exciting new venture, Low Electrical Records, owned and operated by the much-celebrated band, Kneebody (February 26 is also the date of the CD release show at The Jazz Gallery in NYC, more details below).

In addition to his work with the Grammy-nominated band Kneebody, and leading The Music Band, Endsley has been working with some of today’s most exemplary and hippest musicians, including Chris Speed, Charlie Hunter and Ben Allison. With the release of Then The Other, featuring Craig Taborn (piano), Matt Brewer (bass) and Ted Poor (drums), Endsley once again hits the ground running as a bandleader with an album of acoustic quartet music that switch-hits with tunes that are lively and euphonious, to music that posseses a hushed qui vive. Continue reading →